The Whitehall Town Council started its Nov. 17 meeting faced with a 15.36-percent tax rate increase to fund the 2011 town spending plan. In the end, the councilmen were able to cut the final number to 13.62-percent, but it was not easy. Members of the council voted to not give any pay raises to elected […]

The meeting that left the town of Whitehall with an adopted spending plan for 2011 ended with fireworks on Wednesday, Nov. 17, with several heated exchanges betwwen elected officials and town employees. After the meeting, which saw the board adopt a budget with an increase on 13.62-percent after starting the day faced with a 15-plus […]

The town of Whitehall looked to remedy a pair of previous employee situations at its monthly board meeting on Nov. 10. In the first situation, the board looked into the practice of offering retired employees an insurance buyout, something that had been in practice but had not properly been acted upon with a local law. […]

By Keith Lobdell It’s the ol’ “double-reverter.” The Whitehall Town Council talked about its resolved move to the Skenesborough Volunteer Fire Company and the matter of whom the property should go to if the fire company were to no longer exist during its Nov. 10 meeting. Under the current deed, the property would revert back […]

Washington County Budget Officer Brian Campbell addressed a group of 17 residents during the annual presentation of the 2011 preliminary county budget in Whitehall on Friday, Nov. 5. “It’s been quite a challenge and quite educational,” said Campbell, who is serving as the budget officer for the first time this year. “The biggest thing is […]

When Skenesborough Volunteer Fire Company Chief Michael Putorti asked when the town expected to move forward with its plans, the response was, “tomorrow.” And while the statement from Town Supervisor Richard “Geezer” Gordon was more of a joke than a fact, the Whitehall Town Board did end a four-year question by voting to move to […]

WVFC needs increase to keep functioning It’s $15,000 or bust. That was the message that Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company President Brian Brooks had for members of the Whitehall Town Board during their Oct. 4 preliminary budget workshop. “We are respectfully asking for an increase of $15,000 of funding from the town,” said Brooks. “We want […]

The lights may soon go out for those along the Whitehall – Champlain Canal “free wall.” Whitehall Town Supervisor Richard “Geezer” Gordon said he is now willing to bring the matter of the electricity provided along the wall to a vote at the next board meeting. “I think that we are going to have the […]

For Bob Elny, the free docking and use of electricity along the Champlain Canal is troubling as he sees business at the Champlain Harbor Marina drop. “Last week, I saw 21 boats docked along the canal,” said Elny, who addressed members of the Whitehall Town Board at their Aug. 11 meeting. “I did some quick […]